A Rivalry Is Born Carolina's Shocker

Minutes after the Panthers' 12-9 overtime upset of the Buccaneers on Sunday, the visitors' locker room at Raymond James Stadium was abuzz, particularly in the corner where Carolina's defensive linemen dress. They had backed up the preseason boast of defensive tackle Brentson Buckner, who said in late July that Carolina's front four was better than the Super Bowl-champion Bucs' vaunted foursome. Inspired by Buckner's bravado, Carolina's unheralded unit bullied the Bucs' offensive line, shutting down the running game (60 yards in 22 carries) and hurrying Brad Johnson into numerous bad throws.

But to win a game that coach John Fox called "a barroom brawl," the Panthers also needed an outstanding special teams performance. John Kasay was perfect on four field goal tries, including the 47-yard game-winner with 3:28 left in overtime. Steve Smith's 52-yard punt return, to the Tampa Bay 40, set up the score. The booming punts of Todd Sauerbrun, who last week signed a five-year, $7.5 million extension that made him the highest-paid punter in NFL history, repeatedly pinned the Bucs deep in their half of the field. And the Panthers blocked three kicks: the first two, by Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers, on Martin Gramatica field goal attempts, the third on an extra-point try that would have won the game on the last play of regulation. Gramatica hadn't missed a PAT in 129 career attempts until Jenkins broke through the line and blocked his second kick of the day.

There was plenty to celebrate in the corner of the Panthers' locker room until reserve defensive end Kavika Pittman hobbled in on crutches. "They got me on a high-low [chop block]," he told his teammates. "My left ACL [and MCL] tore, and I'm done for the year. They could've stopped at my hip; they didn't have to go after my knee." With that, the mood in the room turned dark as several Panthers accused the Bucs of dangerous play. "You don't mess with people's careers like that," defensive end Mike Rucker said. "They'd do dirty things, and you'd want to retaliate."

Said Bucs cornerback Rhonde Barber, "There's not a lot of love between these two teams. The rivalry is going to be a hot one for a long time."

After a lifeless first half that ended with Carolina leading 6-0, the penalty flags started flying. In the third quarter alone, the Bucs were called for seven penalties, including four personal fouls, that cost them 70 yards. For the game the teams combined for 33 infractions totaling 288 yards. "Once [the Bucs] saw it was a dogfight, late blows started flying, fights started happening, high-lows, cheap shots," said Buckner. "This is a rivalry now."--Josh Elliott

COLOR PHOTO: BOB ROSATO Keyshawn Johnson and the Bucs took a beating from the Panthers'rugged defense.